Does your beloved dog deserve the very best nutrition? Many dog owners choose to cook meals for their furry friends, hoping to provide fresh, wholesome ingredients. It feels good to know exactly what goes into their bowl! However, when you switch to homemade dog food, a big question pops up: Are you giving your dog everything they need? Commercial kibble has added vitamins, but homemade meals sometimes miss key nutrients.
Finding the right supplements for homemade dog food can feel like navigating a maze. You worry about deficiencies, like not enough calcium or specific minerals. It is easy to feel overwhelmed by complicated labels and confusing dosages. You want to boost your dog’s health, not accidentally cause a problem!
This guide cuts through the confusion. We will break down the essential supplements every homemade dog food diet needs. Learn simple, safe ways to balance your dog’s meals for a shinier coat, better energy, and stronger bones. Keep reading to become confident in supplementing your dog’s homemade diet!
Top Homemade Dog Food Supplements Recommendations
- Advanced Dog Multivitamin: Your pets health is our top priority, Canine Complete features a unique blend of organic vitamins for dogs, including probiotics for digestive health. Our easy to use additive fills the nutrition voids in modern pet foods.
- Supports Overall Health: Our dog vitamin powder is formulated to meet the nutritional needs of all types of dogs. From small breeds to large breeds to senior dog and puppy ages, we aim to provide an all in one supplement dogs will love.
- Perfect for Homemade Diets: Use as a daily homemade dog food supplement to enhance nutrition and ensure your pet gets all the pet vitamins and supplements your dog needs. Sensitive stomachs find comfort with our pure, non-gmo, organic ingredients.
- Promotes Healthy Skin and Coat: We source our collagen from fish protein to support skin allergies, making our all in one dog multivitamins powder an excellent choice for dogs with sensitive skin. Using a multi vitamin for dogs can promote a thick coat
- Convenient Dog Supplement Powder: This versatile dog food topper is easy to mix with any meal, providing a complete dose of multivitamins for dogs. Our proprietary powder has an increased absorption rate over chewable dog supplements and vitamins.
- DIY DOG FOOD TOPPER FOR PICKY EATERS: When you make homemade dog food with this blend, it can be used as a full meal or dog food topper for picky eaters.
- COOKING GUIDE INCLUDED: Each Nutrient Blend for homemade dog food comes with full recipe and step-by-step cooking instructions to ensure your dog gets a well-balanced diet.
- FOR COMPLETE & BALANCED HOMEMADE DOG FOOD: The Fish & Sweet Potato DIY is a Proprietary Nutrient Blend perfectly balanced for adult dogs, overweight dogs, and puppies.
- VETERINARIAN DEVELOPED: Nutrient Blends are formulated specifically for each recipe to meet AAFCO recommendations. The blend is compounded from 100% human-grade nutraceuticals regulated by the FDA.
- #1 VET-RECOMMENDED FRESH DOG FOOD BRAND: We pioneered the fresh dog food category and are the only fresh dog food brand used in clinical research trials.
- Simple & Delicious Powder: Natural veggie flavor (roasted peas) that’s easy to mix into home-cooked meals—no pills or complex steps required. Even the pickiest dogs love the taste, making it easy for pet parents to boost daily nutrition without compromising flavor. Makes 33lbs of whole food nutritionally complete and balanced. Vegetarian. Not compatible with commercial dog food.
- Balanced Nutrition: Azestfor Homemade Dog Food Vitamins are formulated with 24 essential vitamins and minerals, natural kelp, and chia seeds. Supports coat health, immune function, digestion, and joint health. Ideal for dogs of all breeds and life stages over 12 weeks old.
- Special Diet Friendly: Perfect for holistic, raw, cooked, BARF, or allergy-sensitive diets. It supports weight management, allergy relief, digestive health, and boosts energy levels. With 3 free, vet-approved whole food recipes included, it allows you to easily create a custom meal plan for your pup.
- Eating Better to Feel Better: Azestfor enhances nutrient absorption thanks to the bioavailability of whole food ingredients. The result? Glossier coats, improved digestion, ideal weight maintenance, and relief from dry, itchy skin. Dogs experience better energy, mood, and overall health.
- Always Supported: Our dedicated customer service is ready to assist you if you have any questions or concerns. Proudly manufactured using high-quality, human-grade ingredients, and AAFCO compliant. Azestfor is a trusted choice among thousands of pet parents.
- GREAT FOR SENSITIVE STOMACHS: This diet is focused on dogs with sensitive stomachs and promotes a healthier coat and skin by boosting your furry friend's immune system with whole-food ingredients.
- COOKING GUIDE INCLUDED: Each Nutrient Blend for homemade dog food comes with full recipe and step-by-step cooking instructions to ensure your dog gets a well-balanced diet.
- FOR COMPLETE & BALANCED HOMEMADE DOG FOOD: Chicken & White Rice DIY is a Proprietary Nutrient Blend perfectly balanced for dogs and puppies.
- VETERINARIAN DEVELOPED: Nutrient Blends are formulated specifically for each recipe to meet AAFCO recommendations. The blend is compounded from 100% human-grade nutraceuticals regulated by the FDA.
- #1 VET-RECOMMENDED FRESH DOG FOOD BRAND: We pioneered the fresh dog food category and are the only fresh dog food brand used in clinical research trials.
- Dog Multivitamin for Enhanced Support - Nature Target 10-in-1 dog vitamins and supplements provide well-round daily support for your dog. Combined with 10 key ingredients, it helps promote digestive, gut, joints, skin and immune health. In addition, the natural and tasty chicken flavor powder is great to be mixed into your dog's food. Each container provides a large capacity supply of 90 servings and it will provide overall protection for your puppy from head to paw and inside and out.
- Dog Probiotics for Digestive Health - Our probiotics for dogs is specially formulated with 5 billion CFUs and 8 strains probiotics, prebiotics and digestive enzymes. Digestive enzymes can break down food, and prebiotics helps the growth of beneficial gut flora. These combined will help relieve digestive and gut issues like diarrhea, constipation, vomiting, gas and support bowel movements. The natural vitamin B, C, D work together to fill in the gap of nutrients and help boost the immune system.
- Hip and Joint Supplement for Dogs - Our product has large amounts of glucosamine, chondroitin, msm and hyaluronic acid to support hips and joints. It can help relieve joint pain, reduce joint stiffness and swelling, repair cartilage and also increase your dog's mobility and flexibility and support normal physical performance. Vitamin D improves the absorption of calcium nutrients and strengthens bones. Your puppy will scamper around full of energy and happiness with these dog joint supplement!
- Shiny and Healthy Skin & Coat - Nature Target dog multivitamin features a blend of flaxseed and Omega 3 extract from marine algae, which provides essential fatty acids to support healthy skin and coat. Added with Vitamin E, it forms a powerful antioxidant that can help relieve dry, itch skin. It helps reduce inflammation, promote dog itch relief, boost cognitive function and improve immune health. With our advanced formula, your fur baby will look soft, shiny and energetic.
- Scientific Formula and High Potency - All of our products are made with all-natural ingredients and produced in a GMP-certified facility. We use a unique delayed-release and 3-layer protective technique to make probiotics delivered to the deep intestine, ensuring it really works. And the powder form greatly increases the potency of the active ingredients. It is gluten free, grain free, corn free and NON-GMO.
- 11-IN-1 DOG SUPPLEMENT FOR FULL-BODY SUPPORT: Expertly formulated dog vitamins that promotes a balanced wellness, supporting mobility, digestion, skin and coat, heart, and cognitive health. Made to nourish every dog, from growing pups to aging companions.
- HIGH POTENCY POWDER WITH 5X MORE ACTIVES: Unlike most pet vitamins and supplements, this powder delivers 2500mg+ of actives per scoop, 5x more than chews. More nutrients, better absorption. Vitamins for dogs that deliver real results.
- FAST-ABSORBING NUTRIENTS FOR REAL RESULTS: A powder-based dog vitamin crafted for superior absorption and bioavailability. Smarter supplements for dogs that deliver more benefits with every scoop.
- CLEAN LABEL WITH FULL TRANSPARENCY: This vitamins for dogs skips the junk. No artificial flavors, starches, or fillers. Every ingredient earns its place for real results. Puppy vitamins and supplements you can actually trust.
- VET FORMULATED FOR DOGS OF ALL AGES & SIZES: Crafted by a board-certified veterinary nutritionist, this dog powder delivers expert-level care. One scoop a day supports long-term wellness for puppies, adults, and seniors. It’s smart dog supplements & vitamins, built for every stage of life.
- 15-IN-1 DOG SUPPLEMENTS: ZEBORA Dog Supplements & Vitamins for Daily Overall Health. Vitamins and Minerals in dog's diet provide long-term immune health and antioxidant support. Helps maintain the normal function of the dog's various organs, increase the energy level, and boost the immune system. Combination of other advanced ingredients to focus on your pet's digestion, gut, skin, coat, joints, and immunity to promote overall health for dogs of all ages, sizes and breeds.
- DOG DIGESTIVE & GUT SUPPLEMENTS: ZEBORA provides up to 5 billion CFU of probiotics, contains 9 strains probiotics, 4 prebiotics and 5 digestive enzymes. More than the single dog probiotic, making it a perfect replacement for probiotics for dog. Added Soil-based probiotics like Bacillus subtilis that are more suitable for pets' gastrointestinal tract, which can relieve dog's vomiting and diarrhea, loss of appetite and indigestion, thus improve bad breath and fecal quality.
- DOG HIP & JOINT SUPPLEMENTS: Senior dog supplements is necessary. ZEBORA Contain high amount of active ingredients in ZEBORA All-in-One Dog Supplement, including chondroitin for joint protection, glucosamine for rebuilding cartilage, MSM for reducing inflammation and Hyaluronic Acid for relieving pain. Their blend helps support dog's overall joint health. Helps improve mobility and flexibility. Additionally, Calcium lactate and Phosphorus help to strengthen their bones and teeth.
- DOG SKIN & COAT SUPPLEMENTS: ZEBORA Multivitamin for dogs contains Vitamin E will make dog's coat shinny. Consuming Vitamins B7 can help them stay clear of skin problems. However, the most important ingredient is precisely formulated Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids. With their participation, our daily multi can better help your dog reduce skin inflammation, relieve allergies, reduce itching or excessive scratching. Omega 3 are critical for brain, heart and eyes development in puppy too!
- WORTH TRUSTED DOG SUPPLEMENTS: ZEBORA made in the GMP certified facility. Adopting advanced nano emulsification technology and secondary micro-powder technology. The powder form greatly increases the potency of the active ingredients. Combining chicken meal, chicken liver meal, goat milk powder and pumpkin powder for a rich flavor and easy intake, even the pickiest pets will love it.
- Annamaet ENHANCE is a vitamin and mineral supplement designed to simply balance your dog’s home-prepared or raw diet. Formulated with two Board Certified Veterinary Nutritionists, Enhance provides key nutrients to help address common gaps found in home-prepared or raw diets. This special formulation will assist in meeting the current requirements for any lean meat-based diet, or those with added vegetables, fruits, oils or grains, Appropriate levels of vitamins and minerals have been associated with increased longevity and decreases in overall health issues
- Did you know studies have shown that 60% of home prepared diets are deficient in at least one nutrient, ENHANCE provides all vitamins and minerals in highly absorbable forms to ensure your dog is vibrant and healthy by unlocking the potential of your dog’s diet
- Annamaet is certified by the National Animal Supplement Council (NASC), the gold standard for animal supplements, The NASC is a nonprofit industry association dedicated to promoting the health and wellbeing of companion animals, and to protecting and enhancing the animal health supplement industry, The NASC Quality Seal makes quality visible
- FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED: Annamaet Pet foods, a truly family owned and operated company, has been providing optimum nutrition to dogs and cats for over 30 years, Our mission is to maximize the health and well-being of our beloved pets while preserving our environment and natural resources for future generations
- 1 scoop (4g) = 4cc or approximately 0.27 TBSP/0.81 tsp
Your Guide to Choosing the Best Homemade Dog Food Supplements
Making your dog’s food at home can be rewarding. You control the ingredients. But homemade diets often miss key nutrients. Supplements help fill those gaps. This guide helps you choose the right ones for your furry friend.
Key Features to Look For
When shopping for homemade dog food supplements, look for several important things. These features ensure your dog gets the best support.
1. Complete Nutrient Profile
- Balanced Vitamins and Minerals: The best supplements provide a full spectrum of essential vitamins (like A, D, E, and B vitamins) and minerals (like calcium, phosphorus, and trace elements). Homemade diets frequently lack enough of these.
- Guaranteed Analysis: Always check the label. It must clearly state how much of each nutrient the product contains. This helps you match the supplement to your dog’s specific recipe.
2. Appropriate Formulation
- Life Stage Specific: Puppies, adult dogs, and senior dogs have different needs. Choose a formula designed for your dog’s age and activity level. A puppy needs more calcium for growing bones than an older dog.
- Recipe Compatibility: Some supplements are designed for raw diets, while others work better with cooked meals. Make sure the supplement fits the way you prepare your dog’s food.
Important Ingredients and Materials
What’s inside the container matters greatly. High-quality ingredients ensure better absorption and fewer side effects.
Source Quality
- Natural Sources: Look for supplements derived from whole foods when possible. For example, kelp is a great natural source of iodine.
- Avoid Fillers: Steer clear of products packed with artificial colors, unnecessary preservatives, or cheap fillers like corn or soy, especially if you are cooking homemade food to avoid these items.
Essential Components
- Calcium and Phosphorus: These must be in the correct ratio (usually around 1.2:1 for adults). An imbalance can cause serious bone problems.
- Omega Fatty Acids: Ingredients like fish oil or flaxseed oil provide healthy fats important for skin, coat, and joint health.
Factors That Improve or Reduce Quality
The quality of a supplement can change based on how it is made and stored.
Quality Boosters
- Third-Party Testing: Reputable brands pay independent labs to test their products. This confirms purity and potency. This is a huge quality indicator.
- Bioavailability: Good supplements use forms of nutrients that your dog’s body can easily use (e.g., chelated minerals).
Quality Reducers
- Improper Storage: Some nutrients, especially vitamins, break down when exposed to heat or light. Check the packaging instructions.
- Over-Fortification: Too much of a good thing can be harmful. Supplements that promise massive doses might lead to toxicity, especially with fat-soluble vitamins like Vitamin D. Always follow recommended feeding guidelines.
User Experience and Use Cases
How easy is the supplement to use? How do dogs react to it?
Ease of Use
- Palatability: Dogs must eat the food! Powders that mix easily into wet food are generally preferred over large pills. Some powders have a slight natural smell, but picky eaters might need you to mix it well.
- Accurate Dosing: The package should include a clear scoop or measuring tool. Accurate dosing prevents guesswork, which is crucial for nutrient balance.
Common Use Cases
- Transitioning Diets: Supplements are essential when switching from commercial kibble to a new homemade recipe. They ensure no sudden nutrient crash occurs.
- Specific Health Needs: If your vet recommends extra joint support (like glucosamine) or skin support (like zinc), you will look for supplements that feature these added components.
10 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Homemade Dog Food Supplements
Q: Why does my dog need a supplement if I cook their food?
A: Commercial dog foods are scientifically balanced. When you cook, it is very hard to match that balance perfectly. Supplements ensure your dog gets every vitamin and mineral needed for long-term health.
Q: Can I just add human vitamins to my dog’s food?
A: No. Dogs need different amounts and ratios of nutrients than people do. Human vitamins can easily cause dangerous overdoses in dogs, especially Vitamin D and Iron.
Q: How long does it take to see results from a supplement?
A: For basic nutrient correction, you might see better energy in a few weeks. For skin or coat changes, it usually takes 4 to 8 weeks because the hair growth cycle is slow.
Q: Should I use a supplement for every meal?
A: Yes, most comprehensive homemade supplements are meant to be added daily to every meal to maintain consistent nutrient levels.
Q: What is the difference between a vitamin powder and an oil supplement?
A: Vitamin powders usually provide the necessary minerals and water-soluble vitamins. Oil supplements primarily focus on healthy fats, like Omega-3s, for skin and joints.
Q: Are expensive supplements always better?
A: Not always, but higher prices often reflect better ingredient sourcing and third-party testing. Look for the guaranteed analysis first, not just the brand name.
Q: Can my veterinarian help me choose a supplement?
A: Absolutely. Your vet or a veterinary nutritionist is the best resource. They can review your specific recipe and recommend a supplement that matches your dog’s blood work and needs.
Q: What happens if I accidentally skip a day?
A: Missing one day will not harm your dog. Consistency is important over weeks and months, but an occasional missed dose is not a crisis.
Q: Do these supplements expire?
A: Yes. Vitamins degrade over time, especially when exposed to air or sunlight. Always check the expiration date and store the container tightly sealed in a cool, dark place.
Q: Should I choose a supplement for raw or cooked food only?
A: Check the label. Some ingredients (like certain probiotics) are destroyed by heat, so those are best for raw diets. Most mineral/vitamin mixes work well for both, but confirmation is always best.